Devastating earthquake in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis: a call for action
Authors: Mohammad Yasir Essar, Arash Nemat, Zarmina Islam, Shoaib Ahmad, Jaffer Shah
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2022)

On June 22, 2022, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6·1 struck the southeastern region of Afghanistan, causing major catastrophes in the Khost and Paktika provinces. The earthquake triggered massive casualities, with over 1000 deaths and 1500 people left injured. The earthquake has been described as the worst to have occurred in the past 20 years. There are no accurate reports of the fatalities and numbers are expecting to increase. In addition, 70% of the houses in the region are damaged.1HealthNet TPOAfghanistan earthquake: our response.https://www.healthnettpo.org/en/news/afghanistan-earthquake-our-responseDate: June 23, 2022Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar The southeastern region of Afghanistan is a low-income area and, over the past decade, the region has experienced several challenges. Due to its geographical terrain, the region has been a frequent location for earthquakes and other natural disasters.2The World BankAfghanistan: disaster risk management & resilience program.https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/afghanistan-disaster-risk-management-and-resilience-programDate: May 2, 2017Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar Additionally, most of the region's residents are illiterate, poor, and have little access to health care. Notably, there is a severe scarcity of health care in the region. Staff, beds, and other medical equipment are in short supply in hospitals.3UN NewsUN agencies rush to aid Afghanistan following deadly quake.https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/06/1120992Date: June 22, 2022Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar The casualities caused by the earthquake are compounded by a humanitarian crisis in the country. The Afghan people were already experiencing hardship. Since the withdrawal of US and international organisations, the situation in the country has worsened. This withdrawal was followed by the cessation of funding and massive economic recession.4Shah J Essar MY Qaderi S et al.Respiratory health and critical care concerns in Afghanistan.Lancet Respir Med. 2022; 10: 229-231Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar In addition, there has been a substantial rise in poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition.5Islam Z Kokash DM Babar MS et al.Food security, conflict, and COVID-19: perspective from Afghanistan.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022; 106: 21-24Crossref Scopus (9) Google Scholar The health-care system was greatly affected by the political transition. Hospitals ran short of essential supplies, and health-care workers were not paid for months.6Brink S No pay for staff. No patient supplies. No heat. This is health care in Afghanistan.https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/12/21/1063840640/no-pay-for-staff-no-patient-supplies-no-heat-this-is-health-care-in-afghanistanDate: Dec 21, 2021Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar Even now, after months of political transition, the health-care system is in disarray and on the verge of collapse. In rural areas of the country, people have even less access to health-care services. Currently, the increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera are alarming. As of June 18, 2022, a total of 9336 cases had been reported, including 15 deaths. Of these cases, 293 cases had been reported in the Kandahar province, 205 in the Zabul province, and 264 in the Ghazni province.7WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional OfficeAfghanistan infectious disease outbreaks situation report: epidemiological week 24.http://www.emro.who.int/images/stories/afghanistan/AFG_INFECTIOUS_DISEASE_OUTBREAKS_WEEK_24.pdf?ua=1Date: June, 2022Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar This situation raises concern over the transmission of acute watery diarrhoea among internally displaced communities due to the recent earthquake. Furthermore, there is a severe shortage of health-care personnel and supplies in the Paktika and Khost provinces. Nearby hospitals are full of people with injuries. Additional spaces are needed for the survival and needs of those who are injured. Neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan and Iran, have increased their efforts in providing aid and assistance to affected people in the region.8Srikonda S Pakistan, Iran send aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan.https://www.siasat.com/pakistan-iran-send-aid-to-earthquake-hit-afghanistan-2355080/Date: June 23, 2022Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar In addition, the Afghan Red Crescent Society, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, have mobilised efforts to provide timely support to the people affected by the earthquake.9International Federation of Red Cross NewsroomDeadly earthquake hits crises-riddled Afghanistan.https://www.ifrcnewsroom.org/story/en/344/deadly-earthquake-hits-crises-riddled-afghanistanDate: June 23, 2022Date accessed: June 26, 2022Google Scholar Medical teams and supplies have been delivered to the area to manage the situation and provide immediate care to the patients. Nonetheless, there is still a shortage of health-care workers and supplies to handle the situation. The current humanitarian crisis in the country, compounded by the casualities of the earthquake, is a serious reminder for international organisations that the situation in Afghanistan is unstable. The earthquake has exposed the existential problems of the country and the health-care system broadly to the world. It will take years to repair the devastation brought on by the earthquake. Additionally, the seismic disaster will exacerbate poverty, food insecurity, and other health-related problems. Therefore, we appeal to all international stakeholders to draw their attention to the ongoing challenges in Afghanistan and to increase their efforts to provide urgent intervention for the improvement of the situation. If the situation persists in this way, a human catastrophe could occur. We declare no competing interests.